BROKEN: Pistorius arrived at the Pretoria High Court for a sentencing [REUTERS]

On the first day of the Blade Runner’s sentencing, his psychologist told a South African court that the shamed athlete was a “broken man” suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. His laywer argued he should only serve a community service order because he had “lost everything” and now felt “utterly worthless”.

And “correctional services” chiefs suggested he be given just 16 hours work a month sweeping up outside a museum as punishment while under house arrest, avoiding jail. Pistorius, 27, was cleared of murder but found guilty of culpable homicide, the equivalent to manslaughter, last month, The verdict was criticised by Reeva’s distraught family.

His sentencing is expected to last the rest of the week as witnesses testify but the Olympic star could face up to 15 years in jail. Psychologist Dr Lore Hartzenberg, a defence witness, said she had treated the double amputee for trauma counselling over the past 18 months.

She told the court: “The effects (of his post-traumatic stress disorder) are such that the fl ashbacks and the re-experiencing of the shooting will be mental images he will always carry with him, making it diffi cult for him to escape from this.

“We are left with a broken man who has lost everything”

Dr Lore

“We are left with a broken man who has lost everything. “He’s lost his relationship with Miss Steenkamp, he’s lost friends and he’s lost his career, and therefore earning potential and fi nancial independence.”

She said the sprinter’s “self-perception” and “self-worth” had been damaged “to the extent that’s he’s unlikely to fully recover from the consequences of the shooting”.

When Dr Hartzenberg described Pistorius a “broken man”, the Olympian began to weep. But prosecutor Gerrie Nel countered her statement by asking about Steenkamp’s devastated family.

“Would you not expect a broken family?” Nel asked, saying her father Barry had suffered a stroke as a result of the killing. Mr Nel criticised Dr Hartzenberg’s fi ndings, saying Pistorius would have the chance to rebuild his life. “We are now dealing with a broken man, but he is still alive,” he said.

While Mr Nel wants a 15-year jail term for Pistorius, but the defence hope to persuade Judge Thokozile Masipa to give him a soft sentence.

Social worker Joel Maringa, who was also called by the defence, said Pistorius, should be put under house arrest and made to do community service sweeping up at the museum. But stunned Mr Nel blasted that as “shockingly inappropriate” and as “no sentence at all”.

Pistorius admitted that he killed 29-year-old Reeva on Valentine’s Day 2013 by fi ring four shots through his toilet door. But he has always insisted it was an accident.